He would not let those five Nirvana Pills slip past his fingers today.

Seeing that no one else spoke up, Ethan calmly added, "Four hundred and sixty."

The auction house stirred in an instant.

Countless gazes shifted toward the box Ethan occupied.

Inside another box, Noel Ashenvale stiffened, then turned to look at North Ashenvale.

Both of them recognized that voice.

It belonged to the mortal enemy of their Ashenvale family—the man they wished dead day and night.

Ethan.

Noel and North Ashenvale both shifted their eyes toward the middle-aged man sitting quietly between them.

This was Karl Ashenvale, First Elder of the Ashenvale family, a half-step Supreme cultivator.

An invincible existence beneath the true Supreme Realm.

He had come three days ago for one reason: to kill Ethan.

"Why are you staring at me?" Karl asked lazily, opening his eyes.

"Brother, that voice belongs to Ethan," Noel replied, jaw tight.

"Ethan?" Karl's brown eyes sharpened, murderous intent flickering.

"He killed our elder and crippled the young master of the Ashenvale family, and now, instead of hiding, he dares compete with us at the treasure appraisal conference?"

"How very bold."

"He will not walk away with even a single Mahayana Pill today," Karl said, voice like ice.

"Understood," Noel replied.

A sneer crept across his lips.

"Haha, Ethan," Noel's mocking voice rang from his box. "After hiding for several months, you finally resurface."

"But this Mahayana Pill is not something your hands can touch."

"Four hundred and seventy spiritual marrow."

His tone dripped with killing intent.

Everyone inside the auction house turned toward Noel's box.

Every box had a half-open curtain and a small window, through which others could faintly see.

The curtain covering Ethan's box was similarly parted, revealing his sitting form.

"That explains it," someone whispered. "No wonder the Second Elder of the Ashenvale family is so aggressive—his opponent is Ethan."

"Alissa died because of Ethan, Cain—the young master of the Ashenvale family—was crippled by him. They're locked in a dead feud now."

"Were it not for the rules of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, those two would already be fighting the moment they crossed paths."

"I heard Karl Ashenvale, the First Elder, arrived several days ago. He's even stronger than Deputy City Lord Skyler and is at the half step Supreme Realm. He's surely here to kill Ethan."

"After this treasure appraisal conference, there will definitely be a fierce battle outside Noble Sun City."

"Ethan may be a monster of talent, but against the Ashenvale family's hunting net, I'm afraid this grudge will finally catch up to him."

"I wouldn't be too sure. Ethan has backing—the Blood Tavern, for one. And earlier, Manager Lana from the Myriad Treasures Pavilion stood on Ethan's side."

"Remember, both the Blood Tavern and the Myriad Treasures Pavilion have true Supremes supporting them."

"You're right. Still… all five major families from the Holy Land of the Endless Mountains are here today—including the saintess, the eldest daughter of the Stonebridge family."

The murmurs intensified.

Some argued; others merely watched.

While Noel Ashenvale's words were sharp as knives, Ethan's gaze remained steady, unfazed.

"Four hundred and seventy-one spiritual marrow."

Ethan raised the number plate marked "33," voice calm.

"Four hundred and eighty!" Noel replied, tone growing colder as he forcefully raised the bid.

Ethan stayed in rhythm.

"Four hundred and eighty-one."

"Four hundred and ninety!"

"Four hundred and ninety-one."

The two men began an intense bidding duel for a single top-grade Mahayana Pill.

"This Ethan only raises the bid by one spiritual marrow each time.

He's clearly toying with Noel's patience."

"Four hundred and ninety-one spiritual marrow for a single top-grade Mahayana Pill—that's already extravagant."

"Ethan may back down soon. He's fighting alone. How could he compete in wealth against the Ashenvale family?"

The price war stirred the whole venue.

"Hahaha, Ethan. If you lack wealth, you shouldn't be out here embarrassing yourself," Noel's derisive voice boomed.

"Bidding one spiritual marrow at a time—laughable."

"Since you're so eager to play, I, Noel Ashenvale, will accompany you."

"Four hundred and ninety-two."

This time, Noel mimicked Ethan, only raising the price by one.

Ethan chuckled lightly and raised the plate again.

"Five hundred spiritual marrow."

Noel's brows twitched.

Ethan was clearly provoking him, pushing his bottom line.

"Stop playing and secure the pill," Karl's voice sounded from behind.

"The limit for a single top-grade Mahayana Pill is six hundred spiritual marrow."

"Understood," Noel replied.

"Five hundred and fifty!"

He leaped forward boldly.

The crowd gasped.

"The Ashenvale family's foundation is… truly terrifying."

"Only a major family like them can casually toss out five hundred and fifty spiritual marrow for a single pill."

"Typically, the best Mahayana Pills go around five hundred and twenty."

"Clearly, Master Noel doesn't want to toy with Ethan any longer."

"Ethan wouldn't dare follow, right?"

"He probably wants to, but can he? The treasure appraisal conference settles everything on the spot."

"If he dares raise the price without the proper amount of spiritual marrow, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion will throw him out and blacklist him for life."

As everyone discussed, Ethan calmly raised his number plate again.

"Six hundred."

The hall fell silent, followed by an explosion of uproar.

No one imagined Ethan would keep bidding.

Nor that he would raise the bid by fifty at once, matching Noel.

Such audacity bordered on arrogance.

"How does Ethan have so much money?"

Noel Ashenvale's initial surprise quickly hardened to a dark scowl.

"Six hundred spiritual marrow is no trivial sum," Noel thought.

"This Ethan might simply be driving up the price maliciously."

Karl stared out at Ethan's box with a cold smile.

"Understood," Noel replied to Karl's unspoken intent.

He raised his voice again.

"Ethan, you've bid six hundred spiritual marrow for a single top-grade Mahayana Pill."

"Do you even have such wealth?"

The auction house rippled with speculation.

Many nodded in agreement—Noel's suspicion was valid.

Ethan might be just stalling, betting on their impatience.

"I don't have that much?" Ethan's voice drifted lazily out from his box.

"Second Elder Noel, if you can't keep up, you should withdraw."

"Frankly, you're making the Ashenvale family look very poor."

"Three thousand spiritual Marrows!"

A/N:

Extra chapters

100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters

200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters

Capsule - 1 Extra chapters

Massage Chair - 3 Extra chapters

Luxury Car - 5 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters

...

Thanks for the Massage Chair: @Kaishepard28

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